Statement on Religious Diversity & the Academic Calendar

Religious diversity has formed a part of LIU Pharmacy’s curricular and extracurricular programs since its founding. In order to advance religious diversity the College makes reasonable accommodations for students whose religious holy days coincide with their work schedules and classroom assignments. The College neither promotes any particular form of religion nor discriminates against students on the basis of their religious viewpoints.

College holidays are not religious holy days, although a religious holy day may from time-to-time coincide with a College holiday. The College attempts to make reasonable accommodations in its work assignments, test schedules, and classroom attendance in ways that do not unfairly burden students.

Students who notify the faculty of a religious holy day conflict in a timely manner shall be excused from class or other scheduled academic activity to observe a religious holy day of their faith. Where attendance is mandatory, students compelled by their religious convictions to refrain from attending class on specific days must notify their instructors no later than the third week or one week before the absence if a conflict occurs before that time.

Students who notify their instructors of a religious holy day conflict in a timely manner shall be permitted a reasonable amount of time to make up the material or activities covered in their absence, including examinations. Students who receive an exemption on religious grounds cannot be penalized for failing to attend class on the days exempted. The instructor may, however, appropriately respond if the student fails to satisfactorily complete any alternative assignment or examination.

In those cases where a request for an excused absence based upon a religious holy day conflict is denied by the instructor, a student may pursue a grievance under “LIU Pharmacy Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures” (posted above in Policies & Regulatons affecting Students). Where a timely request is made but denied by the instructor, the grievance process shall be expedited as much as reasonably possible to ensure that a student pursuing a religious holy day accommodation is not unduly disadvantaged by the passage of time.

Students with attendance conflicts may be required to notify an instructor in writing. An instructor who requires written notice must inform the class of this expectation in the class syllabus. An instructor may deny a student’s request for an excused absence on the ground that the request was not made within a reasonable time period, that is, no later than the third week of class or one week before the absence if a conflict occurs before that time.